The next day.
Morning light streamed in, and Su Linfeng was still deep in his sweet dreams.
Bibi Dong, however, had already prepared breakfast, and without saying a word, quietly slipped out of Spirit Hall.
That morning, only Su Linfeng and Hu Liena sat down to eat.
"Brother Su," Hu Liena asked between bites, "why don't I see Teacher?"
Su Linfeng smiled lightly. "Big Sister went out. She might be gone for a while. But she told us that with the Spirit Master Tournament coming up soon, our training must not slack off."
"Really?!"
Hu Liena gasped, her eyes instantly lighting up as she looked at Su Linfeng. "Then during this time, it'll just be me and Brother Su?"
Uh…
Was that really something to get so excited about?
Su Linfeng was startled by her reaction, but he still gave a confirming nod.
Hu Liena realized she had lost her composure. Her face flushed red, and she quickly lowered her head, burying herself in her food, not daring to meet his eyes.
Little fox.
When the Continental Elite Spirit Master Tournament begins, you'll likely represent the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family, right?
At this moment, Su Linfeng's mind was entirely focused on the finals. He couldn't help but wonder if Qian Renxue would appear at Spirit Hall during the first tournament. Nine years—almost ten—had passed, and he truly missed her.
After breakfast, Su Linfeng and Hu Liena headed to the Spirit Academy.
Training was just as brutal as ever, lasting until the sun dipped low, when Lordiala finally declared the end of the day's grueling practice.
As dusk fell—
In the courtyard of the Pope's Palace, Su Linfeng sat cross-legged, cultivating. Perhaps it was because he had gotten used to helping Bibi Dong refine the Rakshasa God's will every night—now, without that purpose, he suddenly felt like he had lost direction.
Aside from cultivation, he didn't know what else to do.
"Brother Su!"
Just then, Hu Liena came back holding a wine jar. Seeing Su Linfeng meditating, she smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling with delight. "I secretly got us a jar of wine. Want to try some?"
"Wine?" Su Linfeng lifted his gaze, smiling at her.
Just that single glance—
Hu Liena's face immediately turned crimson.
Those damn peach blossom eyes were impossible to resist. "T-This… Brother Su, this isn't from Zhang Ping. I went to buy it myself in Spirit City."
Uh…
Silly girl!
Who asked where the wine came from?
He had only looked at her—why was she explaining herself? Weren't foxes supposed to be cunning and sly? Yet the one before him seemed… a little dumb.
All the better. He decided he'd tease her a bit.
Pop!
The seal was broken.
Su Linfeng's eyes lit up. He stood and walked right up to Hu Liena, leaning close to her chest as he sniffed lightly. "Mmm… fragrant~"
Hu Liena froze, her face burning all the way to her ears.
Fragrant?
Did he mean the wine, or… her?
Why was Brother Su leaning so close?
With just that one move, Hu Liena felt her whole body trembling like a flower in the wind.
B-Brother Su… is he being a rogue?
Not quite lewd, but even more dangerous. Yet deep down, she didn't resist the feeling. Instead, some other emotion stirred within her.
Her heartbeat quickened, her face flushed even deeper.
Nervous and shy, Hu Liena stammered, "B-Brother Su… do you want to try some?"
Su Linfeng smiled faintly, thinking, You'd better not try to imitate Zhang Ping's tricks.
After all, Hu Liena wasn't Bibi Dong.
Winning her over would take time. But winning Hu Liena? That was a matter of minutes. And lately, his fire had been running high. Living under the same roof, a man and woman alone… if something happened, who could blame them?
The moon rose high in the sky.
On the roof of the Pope's Palace, two figures drank freely.
Rarely did life feel so carefree. And tonight, the moon over Spirit Hall seemed especially full.
Su Linfeng and Hu Liena raised their cups to the moon.
Hu Liena sat beside him, legs swinging lightly, hands resting on the tiles behind her. Her face tilted up toward the night sky, and under the starlight and moonlight, she looked even more delicate and charming.
Moonlight bathed her skin, making it appear soft and flawless—like it could shatter at a touch.
It made Su Linfeng want to reach out, just to see if he could squeeze water from it.
Wasn't it said women were made of water? Especially women like Hu Liena—her fox-like figure outpaced her age by far.
But what caught the most attention was her long, shapely legs—perfect, smooth, without the slightest flaw.
Hu Liena was tipsy. Seeing Su Linfeng's unhidden gaze only made her feel more dazed. Slowly, she shifted, inch by inch, until her arm pressed against his.
Their eyes met.
The air grew thick with ambiguity.
Hu Liena's heart pounded faster and faster. She swallowed nervously. There was so much she wanted to tell him…
But when the words reached her lips, she didn't know how to begin.
Her fingers twisted anxiously.
Her face flushed deeper and deeper, like a ripe apple.
And then—
Hu Liena suddenly leaned forward, catching Su Linfeng by surprise with a kiss.
So soft…
Su Linfeng smacked his lips lightly.
Fragrant, gentle, warm.
When the "ambush" ended, Hu Liena's face was scarlet, her ears glowing red with shame.
Her lips parted slightly, her drunken words slurred. "Brother Su… I kissed you. So now… I can give you a baby, right?"
Looking at the moonlit beauty right before him, Su Linfeng felt a sudden, uncontrollable surge of heat.
Who could endure this?
His eye twitched, and he let out a helpless laugh. "Who told you that? Don't tell me… it was Zhang Ping again? What else did she teach you?"
"N-No!"
Hu Liena's face turned bright red. She didn't dare meet his eyes. "I-It wasn't Zhang Ping!"
Uh…
Su Linfeng shook his head, speechless.
As expected.
Even though Hu Liena was already fifteen, she didn't understand anything about these things.
It was also Bibi Dong's fault for not putting more effort into guiding her—otherwise, she wouldn't be this clueless.
Now, Su Linfeng couldn't help but suspect this little fox was actually a silly one. And he felt like teasing her further.
With that thought, he shifted slightly closer, leaning down toward Hu Liena.
In an instant—
The scent of a man, mixed with alcohol, entered Hu Liena's senses, leaving her dazed.
Especially his hot, wine-scented breath.
It made her heart itch uncontrollably.
Such a bold move—how could Hu Liena withstand it?
It was the first time she had ever been so close to a man. No—actually the second. The first was when she had just kissed him.
Her mind blanked.
Hu Liena froze.
She didn't know whether her heart wanted to resist… or yield.
But at least her body's instinct was to resist. Pressed against the tiles behind her, she had nowhere left to retreat. "B-Brother Su… what are you doing?!"
Seeing this little deer cornered, Su Linfeng's sense of conquest surged wildly.
He grew bolder, reaching out to lift her chin with his hand, smiling slyly. "You were so forward just now. Don't tell me… it ends here?"
"Y-You… l-let me go, okay?
Hu Liena had never been teased like this before, and her nervousness made her stumble over her words. I-I didn't… I just
Su Linfeng tilted her chin higher, lowering his head closer. Just what? Just wanted to try it?
Hu Liena: Y-You… what are you… I-I don't want.